Blues never supported star Fekitoa

The breakout star of Super Rugby so far this year, Highlanders centre Malakai Fekitoa has opened up on his time with the Blues.

The breakout star of Super Rugby so far this year, Highlanders centre Malakai Fekitoa has opened up on his time with the Blues.

The 21-year-old swapped Auckland for Dunedin and the move is paying off handsomely for Fekitoa, who has scored three tries so far this season.

Tipped as a future All Black based on his performances for the Highlanders, questions naturally arose as to why Fekitoa's time at the Blues wasn't more successful.

Speaking in the bye week with the Highlanders having won four of their first seven matches, Fekitoa revealed that the only feedback he received from the Blues' coaching staff, lead by John Kirwan, had been overwhelmingly negative.

"I didn't really get that much support from the coaches, backing me up in what I do," Fekitoa told Newstalk.

"They told me that I wasn't ready. You want a chance to prove them wrong... I didn't get that until the France game and I felt like I performed in that game... it still wasn't good enough with them.

"I felt like everything I did was negative but coming here is quite different.